Calculator



W. L. WYCKOFF. CALCULATOR. F1 LED FEB. 7, 9l 9,

Dec. 26, 1922.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l //S ATTORNEY Dec. 26, 1922. 1,439,936

W. L. WYCKOFF. CALCULATOR.

FILED FEB. 7. 1919. 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3 BY W @QV-M ///-5 ATTORNEY PatentedDee. 26, 1922.

UNITED1 STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM WYCKOFF, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

CALCULATOR.

Application led February 7, 1919. Serial No. 275,505.

vbeing had tothe accompanying drawings,

which form a part of this specification.

` My invention relates to a calculator for navigators and Aan object ofmy improvements is to provide an instrument by which the course anddead-reckoning calculations can be readily and 'accurately made.

Ivsecure this object in the device illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings in which,

Figure 1 is a plan view of an instrument embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a section of the same on the line B-B of Fig. 1. v

Figure 3 is a detail sectional view of the locking mechanism.

Figure 4 is a detail elevation of the locking and unlocking mechanism'and adjacent parts looking from the right of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a detail pla-n view partly broken away and illustrating anattachment for accurate adjustment of the relative posi- -tion of theparts.

Figure 6 is a side elevation, partly in section, ofthe parts shown inFigure 5.

F iUure 7 is a lan view of the outer rin to an enlarged scale, separatefrom the rest of the instrument. I

Figure 8 is a diametral section of the same.

Figure 9 is a plan view of the inner ring, or disk, to an enlargedscale, separate from the instrument.

Figure 10 is a diametral section of the same. l

The instrument consists mainly of a rider a, the outer ring b and theinner ring c, all of which turn about a central pivot d. There is aspacing washer surrounding the central pivot d sunk into the disk c andvextending somewhat above its surface. The rider a 'rests upon thiswasher and is spaced thereby from the upper surface of the parts b andc. The inner edge of the ring b and the outer` edge of the disk c arecut away so as to fit into each other, as shown most distinctly in ofthe calculator.

Fig. 2, and turn with some friction each other.

The rider a is provided at its outer end with a handle and means fornormally locking it to the'ring b, or unlocking it therefrom, when thisis required in the operation This means, as shown most clearly inFigures 2, 3 and 4, consists of the lever g pivoted to a depending partof the rider a and having `one arm ga adapted to engage the underside ofthe ring upon I b and its other arm g4 extending in the oppoi sitedirection to the arm g3 from the pivot g2. There isla lug rising fromthe lever g upon the side of the pivot g2 toward the ring b extendingthru a slot in the rider a; and provided with a key f3 at its upper end.There is a similar lug upon the other side of the pivot which similarlyextends above the rider and is provided with a key f. The first vnamedkey is designated by the word Unlock and the last named ke by Lock Whenthe key f2 4is depresse the rider is very firmly locked to the ring b byfrlction due to the pressure of the arm g3 v against the underside ofthe ring. When the other end of the lever g is pressed down by means ofthe key f3 the rider is released from engagement with the ring and maymove independently thereof. There is a. spring f4k which acts upon thelever g to turn the same about its pivot and engage the arm g3 with theunder surface of theI ring b so as to normally hold the rider engaged tothe ring b. y

Referring particularlyl vto Figures 1, 7 and 9. The outer ring Z) isprovided with two series of concentric annular spaces upon its outersurface for receiving scales as hereinafter described. The first seriesis indicated by the reference numbers 2 and 3 and the' second 'series bythe numbers 4, 5, 6 and 7. I,

The inner disk, or ring, is provided with aconcentric annular space 8between its edge and a concentric circle engraved upon its surface, asecond annular space 9 radially within the first named space, 'a seriesof similar spaces 10, 11, 12 and 13 and a second series of spaces 14,15, 16, and 17.

The rider ais provided with a rectangular radially-extending openingthru its face marked a2 and in this opening is placed a transparentsubstance upon which is engraved a straight line w running radially andthru lthe center of the opening.

This is the datum line and also serves to aline the scale divisions onthedisk c and ring Z which are seen thru the transparent materialcovering the opening a.

Upon the surface of the rider a'are engraved the boundary lines of arectangular space a3 in which appear the words Degrees and minutes. Theends of the sides that come to the edge of the opening a2 correspond tothe scale 2 upon the ring b anda similar rectangular space a4 is soindicated which designates the scale 3 in the same Way and has the wordNumbers eno'raved therein. Adjacent to and to the left of the space a*is a third space a5 with sides normal to the line and indicating, at theedge of the opening a2, the limits of the series of scales 4, 5, 6 and 7upon the ring b, and in this space are engraved the words Read course.Upon the opposite side of the opening a2 there is indicated a space athat is in the form of a T, the stem of which has its sides coming tothe edge of the opening a2 and coinciding with the limits of the seriesof scales 4, 5, 6, 7. In the cross-bar portion of the space a8 isengraved When position sought is between and the stein lis ,divided intofour spaces by lines parallelto the sides of the stem, each of thesespaces indicating one of the scales 4, 5, 6 or 7 and in each of thesespaces are indicated two adjacent cardinal points. That is to say, thespace at the left in this instance is marked N & E to indicate the firstquadrant,the second space S & E to indicate the fourth quadrant, thethird space S .& W to indicate the third" quadrant, and the fourth spaceN 8a W to indicate the second quadrant. The operator reads the scaleopposite which appear the two cardinal points between which Ythedestination lies. Next to the left of the space a? and adjacent theretois the space a7 having the designation therein Degrees and minutes7 andindicating the scale 8 on the surface of the disk c. Next to the left ofthe space a7 is the space as having the designation therein Middlelatitude and indicating the scale 9 on the 4disk c. Next to the left ofthe space a8' is the space a indicating the series of scales 10, 11, 12and 13' and having the words Sine scale across its outer end and dividedinto four d1v1s1ons by lines parallel to the sides, each divisionLacasse the. subdivision is reversed. The space a subtends and indicatesthe series of scales le, 15, is and 17. A

Upon the opposite side of the opening a2 adjacent to its edge is adivision an which subtends both series of scales 10, 11, 12, 18, and 14,15,16, 17 and this space is designated by the words Direction in whichdegrees and minutes or miles are to be applied, andvat the part of saidspace next adjacent to `the edge of the opening a2 are subdivisionsdesignating the two series of scales, separately. The space designatingthe inner series is indicated by the word Latitude and the separatescales begining at the left 4and reading to the right are designated bythe letters N. S. S. N. indicating cardinal points. The outerseries isdesignated by the word Longitude and its separate scales as before areindicated by the letters E. W. W. E. also indicating cardinal points.

Upon the line at-the center of the opening a2 is engraved upon thetransparent material closing said opening arbitrarily selectedcharacters to designate the different scales as for instance upon eachside 'of the space over the scale 2 are two open rectangles engraved,and on the inner side of the scale Sis engraved an open circle; aboveeach of the lines enclosing the space' 8 is engraveda solid rectangleand above the inner boundary line o'f the space 9 is engraved a solidcircle. I

In constructing the apparatus embodying my invention the graduations onthe various scales above noted are projected radiali from a singlemaster scale, the uniform divisions of which are in a circle concentricwith the plate and ring c b and'correspond to the 120 logarithme ofnumbers from hundredths to thousands and the scaleis divided into fiveequal maindivisions designated by the characteristic of the logarithmswithin .the rei spective divisions,v thus: the first line of the 110first division may be designated by the characteristic 2, the dividingline between first and second. division .by 1, the third by 0, thefourth by 1, the fifth by 2, and the original first division,-whenregarded astlie termi- 115 nation of the scale would be indicated by thenumber 3.

The graduations for numbers and angles on the scales also fall into fivemain divisions -which are taken in the order given above;

forthe first division angles whose natural functions vary fromhundredths to tenths; second division, angles whose natural functionsare between tenths and one, third division, angles whose naturalfunctions are between one and ten and numbers between one and ten andangles whose minutes are between one and ten; fourth division, angleswhose natural functions are between tens and hundreds and numbersbetween tens and and-angles whose minutes are between hundreds andthousands.

In the annular space 3 are graduations of numbers from'one to fourthousand which minutes and extending from one m1nute:to-

. alternating in direction.

'are projected radially from the master scale according to thelogarithms of the respective numbers. The numbers represent nauticalmiles ofdeparture or minutes of latitude according to the operationbeing performed or to the calculation being made. Inthe space 2 aredesignations of the same scalxin circular measure, that is to say,degrees and 665. The commencement of' `this scale, or these scales, isprojected radially from the zero graduation of the logarithmicmasterscale and will be marked, respectively, 1 and 0 1 as indicated.

The series of scales 4,- 5,6, 7 is constructed as follows:

Their divisions represent the logarithms of the tangents of angles, forinstance, the scale 4 commencing at 4it and ending at 4b begins' withthe'angle Whose tangent is .01 or 34 extending to an angle at 89 26.

No attempt is made to graduate scales for angles whose functions aresmaller than 0.01

or greater than 100 as the logarithm increases much more rapidly inproportion than the corresponding angle.

The secondscale 5A commences at 5 with the tangent of the angle 90 34andextends to 5b to an angle of 179 26. The third division 6- commencingat 6a with an angle of 180 34 and extending to6b an angle of 269 .26.The fourth division commences at 7a at an angle of 270 34 and extends to7b at an angle of 359 26, all these scales lying at the right from theupper radial line and The graduations of these scales are locatedaccording to the logarithms of the tangents of angles excepting at thecardinal points Where the numerical va-lues of the tangents approachinfinity. It will be noted that as the angle increases and the value ofthe tangent increases, the numbers on the scale increase ina clockwisedirection, but if the value of the tangent de creases as the angleincreases the numbers on the scale increase in a counterclockwisedirection.

The following scales are engraved upon the surface of the disk c.

The scale 8 extending from the scale-unitv line 'at 8a to a point 8bcorresponds in relative angular position to the scale division 2a 2* ofthe outer scale and is graduated to correspond to the outer scale, andits diviy sions are correspondingly marked to indicate degrees andminutes fromone minute at the logarithmic zero line to 66gLO at 8b,running in the direction of the hands of a clock.

.in longitude between the 4two places, the difgIn the space 9 areengraved divisions located acco'rdlg to logarithms of cosines of anglesfrom 0 to 70 and` running in acounterclockwise direction from the limits9a to 9*.

The divisions 10, 11, 12 and 13 are graduated betweenlimitscorresponding to the-angular position of the limiting l1nes of thescales 4, 5, 6, 7, to correspond to the sines of angles from 0 34-35926.

' The concentric scales 14, 15, 16 and 17 are correspondingly graduatedfor the cosines of angles.

The method of using the above described device is as follows:

` If one wishes to.l find the course-the latitude and longitude at theplace at which one is located and the place to which he wishes to sailbeing knownhe finds the difference ference of latitude between the twoplaces and the middlelatitude. He then unlocks the rider and moves it tothe division corresponding to the difference of longitude on the scale2. He then locks the rider to the ring b and moves both until the datumline .r is over thel number on the scale 8 which corresponds to thedifference of latitude. He then unlocks the rider and moves itl untilthe datum line is above the division on the scale 9 corresponding to themiddle latitude.

Now he reads his course from that one of the scales 4, 5, 6, 7 whichlcorresponds to the quadrant in which his destination is located, that isto say, the first, fourth, third or sec- 100 ond uadrant as designatedby N & E, S & E, S& ,andN&Wonthe rider a.'

Or to find the distance to be sailed, he unlocks the rider and moves thedatum line to the position on the scale 2 which cor- 105 responds to thedifference in latitude and lock the rider in this position hethen movesthe disk c until the division on the cosine scale which vcorresponds tothe angle of the course appears beneath the datum line, and then unlocksthe riderand brings the datum line with the unit or zero line on thescale 8. The required distance in miles will appear under the datum lineon the scale 3.

Or if one wishes to find the departure when course and. distance areknown, he unlocks the rider and moves the datum line to a position whichcorresponds to the distance in miles on the scale 3f, he then locks therider to the ring b and moves both to the unit 'or zero line on thescale 8 or, what is the same thing, moves the disk c until the unit orzero line appears under the datum line. He then releases the rider andmoves the datum line to a position on the sine scale which correspondsto the course. The departure may then be read onv the scale 3 underdatum line.

Or to find the difference in klongitude when departure and middlelatitude are responds to the course.

known. he releases the rider and moves datum line to a position whichcorresponds to the departure on scale 3', he then locks the rider andmoves the rider and ring to the position at which the middle latitudeappears under the datum line on scale 9.* Then he unlocks ,the rider andmoves the datum line to the yunit or zero line on the disk o. Thedifference of longitude in degrees and minutes will appear upon thescale 8.

To find the dliference in latitude when the miles sailed and the courseis known, unf lock the rider and carry the datum line to `th number ofmiles sailed on the scale 3;

then lock the rider to the ring b and move the two until the unit orzero line appears under the datum line :a on the disk (r. Unlock therider and move the datum line until the angle corresponding to the'course appears under it on the cosine scale. The diiference in latitudemay be read under the datum line from the scale 9.

To find the difference in longitude when the miles sailed, the middlelatitude, and course are known, unlock and move the datum line to thenumber on the scale 3 which corresponds to miles sailed, lock and movethe datum line to the number corresponding to middle latitude on thescale 9, and then unlock and move the datum line to the number on sinescale which cor- The difference in longitude will then appear on thescale 2 under the datum line fr.

The directions for use will be engraved upon the surface of' the rider apreferably in the different spaces indicated in Fig. 1.

'lhus, in the space a.12v would be engraved To find course and ydistancewhen position in and position sought, are known; under this generalheading, in the space marked als would be printed the above directionfor finding the course when the difference of longitude and of latitudeand the middle latitude are known. The various scales in thesedirections would be designated by the arbitrary characters abovereferred to upon the line In the space a would be the direction forfinding the distance, the difference of latitude, andthe course beingknown. In the space als will be` engraved the/direction for finding thedeparture when course and distance are known. In the space al would bethe direction for finding the difference of longitude when departure andmiddle latitude are known. In the space al? would be engraved thegeneral heading To find difference of latitude and longitude whenposition left, course and distance sailed are known and, under thisgeneral heading in space als would be the direction to find thedifference of latitude when the course and distance sailed are known andin the space als the direction for finding the difference oflongitude-the middle latitude,

the miles sailed, and the course being known.

Of course, these spaces may be varied acy cording to the judgment ortasteof the Adesigner and different equivalent arrangements of thescales will be within the mechanical skill of' the art. I have indicatedwhat I regard as the best form and arrangement.

In order to bring the ring and disk b c with the required divisions ofthe scales accurately in line, I have provided the device shown mostclearly in Figures 5 and 6. In this device m is a radially extendingsmall rod of L-shape iny cross section having one flange secured fiatagainst the underside oi the disk c and extending under the edge of' thering I). To the horizontal flange of the rod m I pivot at m4 a. secondlever m3 which extends radially outward and is itself provided with avertically oscillating lever m5 pivoted to it at m". The lever m5 isprovided at its inner end with an upwardly extendmg pin or s ur m7. A

yWhen the disk e :and ring b have been turned I relative to each otherso as to make the desired division of scales come approximately in linethe operator grasps and pulls downward on the outer end of the lever m5,thus bringing the upper' end of the spur m7 into engagement with theunder surface of the ring b. 'The outer arm of the levers m3 and m5 maynow be moved horizontally, thus pivoting about the spur m7 and movingthe ring b and disk c slightly with reference to each other. -In thisway the scale divisions may be brought accurately in line.

What I claim is:

1. In a calculator, the combination ofL a circular inner disk; an outerring rotatably encircling thedisk, said disk and ring being providedwith concentric annular scales; a radially disposed rider surmountingthe disk and ring and having a pivotal connection with the former; saidrider beingprovided with a handle for turning it and with sight openingsin register with the several scales on the disk and ring; and a leverfor coupling the rider to the ring for movement as a unit relative tothe disk, said lever engageable at one endwith said ring and havingseparate keys for moving it into and out of such engagement.

2. In a calculator, the combination of a circular inner disk; an outerring rotatably encircling the same, said disk and ring being providedwith concentric annular scales; a lever system connecting the disk andring f'or effecting fine relative adjustments of the graduations of thescales thereon; a rider pivotally connected to the center of the diskand extending radially outward across said disk and the ring; said riderbeing provided with a handle for turning it and with sight openings inregister with the several scales on the disk and ring; and a lever onthe rider enga eable with saidring to couple the two toget er formovement las a unit relative to the disk.

3. In a calculator, the combination of a circular inner. disk; an'vouter ring rotatably encircling the same, said disk and ring beingprovided with concentric annular scales; a connection between the diskand ring for effecting tine relative adjustments of the graduations ofthe scales thereon; said connection comprising a rod secured to theunderside of the disk and extending beneath the edge of the ring, alever pivoted to said rod and extending radially outward, and avertically oscillating lever pivotally connected to the first lever andhaving at its inner end an upstanding spur to engage the underside ofsaid ring when its outer' end is depressed; a rider pivotally connectedto the center of the disk` and extending radially outward across saiddisk and the ring; said rider being provided with a handle for turningit and with sight openings in register with the various scales on thedisk and ring;

' and means for releasably coupling the rider and ring together forvmovement as a unit relative tothe disk.

- 4. In a calculator, the combination of a circular inner disk; an outerring rotatably encircling thesame, said disk and ring being providedwith concentric annular scales; a rider pivotally'connected to thecenter of the disk and .extending radially outward across said disk andthe'ring;` said rider having sight openings in re ister with the variousscales on the disk an ring, and also having a handle for turning `it andwhichl is provided with a pair of spaced slots; and

a lever fulcrumed on the Wider side of said ication.

WILLIAM L. WYCKOFF.

